New report finds disruption to Australian ecstasy market following COVID-19 restrictions

The Drug Trends program at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), UNSW Sydney has found evidence of ongoing disruption to Australian ecstasy markets since COVID-19 and associated restrictions.

Key findings from the 2022 Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) interviews with people who regularly use ecstasy and other illicit stimulants highlight significant changes in the perceived availability of all forms of ecstasy, with more participants nominating availability as ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ relative to 2021 and prior. 

“We also found some indications that the price of ecstasy has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, and that perceived purity has decreased,” said Dr Rachel Sutherland, Deputy Program Lead of Drug Trends.

Reported frequency of ecstasy use has also been lower in the past two years than before the pandemic.

“The frequency of ecstasy use has almost halved compared to 2020 and prior,” said Dr Sutherland.

“This reduction in ecstasy use is likely a consequence of disruptions to the ecstasy market, and of reduced opportunities to attend events where ecstasy may typically be used since the onset of the pandemic. 

“While this may seem like a positive outcome, it is possible that major disruptions to the ecstasy market could result in some people using other substances which may have greater risk of harm.”

The price of cocaine has also increased since the onset of the pandemic and is now a median of $350 for a gram. 

However, reports of perceived availability of cocaine continue to be strong since the onset of the pandemic, which aligns with suggestions of increased supply and demand globally. 

“These findings reinforce the need for people who use cocaine to have access to advice on how to reduce the risk of overdose, injuries and other harms,” said Associate Professor Amy Peacock, Deputy Director of NDARC and Program Lead of Drug Trends.

“They also highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring to track changes in Australian drug markets and the use of ecstasy and other illicit stimulants.

“The EDRS is key to identifying these trends and provides evidence of emerging issues that warrant further examination.”

The 2022 national EDRS and Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) reports are being released today at the 2022 NDARC Annual Research Symposium. 

The Drug Trends program is coordinated by NDARC at UNSW Sydney and collaborators across Australia.

Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS)

EDRS interviews are conducted annually with a sentinel sample of people who regularly use ecstasy and other illicit stimulants, recruited from all capital cities of Australia.

There were 700 participants in 2022. Read the full report here.

Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)

IDRS interviews are conducted annually with a sentinel sample of people who regularly inject drugs, recruited from all capital cities of Australia.

There were 879 participants in 2022. Read the full report here.

Drug Trends

The Drug Trends program has been coordinated by NDARC since 1996 with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 

It is undertaken in partnership with researchers from National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University; Burnet Institute; School of Psychology, University of Tasmania; Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland; and Northern Territory Health. 

The Drug Trends program is key to identifying emerging problems in substance use in Australia. Read more.

When reporting on drugs and alcohol, we encourage consultation of the Mindframe guidelines on ‘Communicating about alcohol and other drugs’ and the ‘Language Matters’ guide published by the NSW Users and AIDS Association. 

In accordance with best practice guidelines, we recommend inclusion of the following information in any media reporting on drugs and alcohol: Free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs is available 24/7 by calling the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 or Family Drug Support on 1300 368 186.